It seems Kevin Rose is finally waking up to the reality of Digg gangs and gaming that goes in Digg. Kevin in his blog has to say this:
Over the last (almost) two years we have learned a lot about the user base and how to defend digg from spam, artificial diggs, and digg fraud. It’s a battle we will continue to fight and one that we don’t take lightly…Now those who have been Digging for sometime and follow the top users would know that a certain p9s50W5k4GUD2c6 is the top Digg user. He has over 1300 submissions and an overwhelming 50% of his stories have been promoted so far.… It is our goal to create a platform in which you can share and promote news that is important to you. What is changing however is how we are handling story promotion. While we don’t disclose exactly how story promotion works (to prevent gaming the system), I can say that a key update is coming soon. This algorithm update will look at the unique digging diversity of the individuals digging the story.
Apparently he didn’t like the idea of an algorith change and quit Digg citing different reasons. In his comment on a Rose submission in Digg he quit Digg giving the following explanation for his decision:
Dear Mr. Rose: So all of a sudden, my use of the BUILT-IN functionality of Digg amounts to gaming?Big deal. In my opinion, he didn’t find it easy to accept the new proposal of change. In that event, the top slot that he enjoyed for so many days stood threatened. Since Digg is thinking and taking steps to change how Digg functions, it is might just have an effect on the Digg gangs and gamers who have completely hijacked the Digg cause.I ignored Digg’s ice-cold level of support during the Netscape transition. Instead I stayed with Digg - for nothing.
I ignored Jay’s jack-ass condescending T-Shirt comment.
I ignored the misbegotten algorithm you all put in place shortly after that that made it MISERABLY hard for any user to get to the front page (which is a big factor in this whole issue)
I overlooked all the red ink about I/we were FOOLS to digg so hard for you - the 60 Million Dollar Man.
I overlooked the Trademark fiasco and the treatment of Digg’s users
I overlooked this: http://digg.com/music/EMI_in_free_music_downloads_deal and
But I will NOT overlook your tacit equation of BUSTING MY ASS for Digg with gaming.As a direct result of your blog this evening. I will no longer no supporting Digg going forward. I bequeath my measly number one position to whoever wants to reign.
And for all of you that do nothing but bitch about your being PREVENTED from getting your stories dugg - here’s your chance! Now YOU can spend all the time, all the effort and get stabbed in the back by fellow Diggers (aptly named) and then tossed to the side by a Digg team that values toilet paper with more worth than the core users that feed this site it’s content every day.
I believe you to be a good man, Kevin. Well intentioned or not: your blog satisfied malcontents equipped with baseless allegations while you effectively urinated on your top diggers (correction: top gamers). I wish you well. I will be turning over the Digg Users Support Group to someone else.
To my many friends - I will miss you.
P9
Though I believe that it is always wonderful to have characters like P9 around, I am not exactly weeping to see his back.
